A reader wrote in, asking about 1129-31 E. Montgomery Ave., two vacant lots a few steps from Girard Ave. and across the street from Kraftwork. Thinking that two vacant lots in such a hot area meant that development was sure to follow, we decided to do a little digging- and here’s what we came up with.

The lots

The lot on the right, 1129 E. Montgomery Ave., was once a teeny little cottage, set back from the street like many other Fishtown homes. It featured an odd triangular roofline and some sweet vinyl siding. As far back as 1998,

We got an email from a helpful reader the other day, with some interesting news for a rough-looking building on Girard Avenue. Across the street from a BP station, 527 W. Girard Ave. has clearly seen better days. Home to a theatre of some kind in the past, and before that the Sixth Street Farmers Market, this large brick building currently houses a check cashing place that apparently buys gold, and a “discount plus store.” We don’t know who decided to paint the building white or when this decision was made, but we’re guessing it was instantly regretted.

Large place

From the gas station parking lot

According to a recent zoning application, a new tenant wishes to take over the easternmost retail space in the building, formerly occupied by a “scratch and dent” appliance store. This new…

If you’re any kind of regular reader of this here blog, you’re keenly aware of the amount of residential new construction activity going on in Fishtown and the surrounding neighborhoods. Often, we find ourselves covering larger scale, sexier projects, like Norris Square at Norris & Trenton, or five units replacing a triangular warehouse near Palmer Park. But like other parts of town, there are still plenty of one-off and two-off developments in this neighborhood, as well.

Take, for example, the case of 1232-34 E. Oxford St.

Vacant lots

This double-wide, vacant lot (a home stood on one of the lots less than ten years ago) will soon be home to two new houses. On a quiet, skinny block, less than half a block away from bustling Girard Ave., we were surprised just how noisy it wasn’t. We were…

We’ve had our eye on this construction site at 117 W Girard Ave. for a few months now, and haven’t come any closer to knowing what’s going on…

New building

is replacing this old building

The property, which sits on a 14′x52′ lot, was purchased by Selina Inc for $150K back in 2006. We can’t find much info on this company, except that they own another rental property in Kensington. For years, Victor’s Luncheonette held down the fort at this corner, but Victor’s is no more. The new building’s design puzzles us some. The location on Girard Ave. and the large windows would seem to indicate a commercial use, but doesn’t everything seem awfully high off the ground? Aren’t some ADA rules being violated here?

Does anyone know anything else about this project? We’re nearly certain that…

We don’t want to suggest that we support any one bank over another, but a resident of Earl St. in Fishtown definitely has disdain for one particular bank above all the rest.

While it’s certainly this individual’s right as a citizen to express their distaste for this large and powerful financial institution, we most appreciate just how directed it is. See, there’s a branch right across the street. Clearly, we’ll be doing everything we can not to upset this individual- who knows what a similar pronouncement would do to our cred in Fishtown?

If just looking at the images doesn’t get the point across, check out the Google Maps Streetview.